Daniel Craig Nominates an Unlikely Brit as His James Bond Successor

Even though *V.F.*cover star Daniel Craig is signed on to play James Bond in at least two more films after the forthcoming Skyfall, fans of the franchise have already begun brainstorming his replacement for the iconic role. Among the names circulating in casual casting circles: Christian Bale, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, and Idris Elba (Prometheus,The Wire), the latter of whom reportedly met with the series’ producer Barbara Broccoli and, if selected, would be the first black 007. During a recent interview, Craig got in on the fun, too, suggesting his own potential successor.

After Craig, a Liverpool-soccer fan, was asked whether he would trade in his keys to the franchise to be the captain of his favorite team, the actor replied, “Well, I don’t think I could keep up any more so Bond will do, but Steven Gerrard would make a good Bond. He is a good leader, so you know what, seriously, who knows?” The 32-year-old footballer, who serves as captain of both the Liverpool team and England’s nation team, certainly has the athletic prowess to accept the assignment, and judging by accounts of a bar-brawl trial in 2009, he also has the self-defense instincts and suit-friendly frame required of any good Bond. (If you squint, he even bears a slight resemblance to Craig.) But does he have the necessary acting skills? So far, Gerrard’s only acting credits include playing himself in a range of projects, the most significant being the 2011 British sports dramaWill.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post said that Idris Elba would be the first African American James Bond if selected for the role. Born and raised in the U.K., Elba would be the first nonwhite actor to play the part.